Folding table for attachment to vehicle doors



Dec. 5, 1950 A. s. SPARKS FOLDING TABLE FOR ATTACHMENT TO VEHICLE DOORSFiled Oct. l5, 1948 INVENTOR.

md/V54 ATTU R N EYS //ya/a (Si 5 Y my Patented Dec. 5, 1950 orrici.:

wFoLioING TABLE FORATTACHMENT fro VEHICLE DOORS 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a folding table, and more particularly to afolding table adapted to be attached to a door of a vehicle.

The object of the invention is to provide a table adapted to be attachedto a vehicle door for supporting articles of food thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a table adapted to beattached to a vehicle door which can be extended to support articles offood thereon, and which can be folded into a compact unit when notneeded.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the table in folded,out-of-the-way position attached to the inside of a vehicle door;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure1;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the table attached to a vehicle;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the table in eX- tended position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure3;

Figure 6- is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Figure4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral Ill designates aportion of a vehicle provided With doors Il (broken lines) from whichthe door trim has been removed. The table of the present invention ispreferably fabricated of metal and is for use of the occupants withinthe vehicle, and the table can be attached to either the right frontdoor or the rear doors.

The table comprises a pair of spaced, parallel brackets I2 and i3 whichhave their upper ends bent, as at I4, to define hooks which provide ameans for supporting the table on the vehicle door.

Secured to the brackets I2 and I3 by rivets I5, Figure 5, is a rstvertically-disposed at rectangular section I6. A catch I'I having aslight resiliency is secured to the upper end of the first section I Bfor a purpose to be subsequently described. A lip 9 projects from thebottom of the first section I8 for maintaining the second section I9horizontal when the table is being used. A hinge I8 connects the lowerportion of the first section I6 to one end of the second section I9. Ahinge 2U connects the other end of the second section I9 to one end of athird section 2 l, and a hinge 22 connects the other end of the thirdsection 2| to one end of a fourth section 23. A pair of channel members24 and 25 are mounted for sliding movement along the sides of thesections for bracing the sections when the table is in eX- tendedposition. Thus, when the table is in extended position, the channelmembers 24 and 25 are moved so that they extend between the second andthird sections, and third and fourth sections, respectively to therebybrace the joints between the latter. When the table is to be folded outof the way, the channel members 24 and 25 are moved in the directions ofthe arrows, Figure 4, to permit the sections to be pivoted about theirrespective hinges.

Secured to the outer end of the fourth section 23 is a lug 26 providedwith an aperture 21 for receiving the catch I'l when the table is foldedto thereby provide a means for releasably maintaining the table infolded position.

Y The bottom of the fourth section'23 has secured thereto a leatherstrip or covering 28 which provides an attractive exterior for the tablewhen in folded position, Figures l and 5.

In use, the table can conveniently be installed on the door of a vehiclewithout interfering with the arrangement of the vehicle. The table isuseful as a service table for beverages, and the like while the occupantis seated in the vehicle. It can also be used while traveling onpassenger trains, planes, and buses, for letter writing purposes as wellas for supporting articles of food.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as manymodifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

A collapsible table comprising a pair of spaced brackets, a verticallydisposed first section secured to said brackets, a second section havingone end hingedly connected to the lower end of said first section, athird section having one end hingedly connected to the other end of saidsecond section, a fourth section having one end hingedly connected tothe other end of said third section, a pair of channel members slidablyarranged on the sides of said sections for bracing the sections when thetable is in extended position, a catch secured to said rst section, anda lug secured to said fourth section, there being an aperture in saidlug for receiving said catch when the sections are in their foldedposition.

ANGELA S. SPARKS.

(References on following page) REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Farrar Sept. 29, 1874 HaggardJuly 8, 1890 Turner Apr. 28, 1903 MacDonald Feb. 6, 1912 Thiss July 21,1914 Joce Aug. 27, 1918 Number 10 Number

